While no Kurt Warner, I consider myself to be a morally upstanding citizen. I give up my seat on the subway to the elderly (as well as shoot an annoyed look to the teenagers who do not), refrain from unnecessarily yelling fire in a crowded movie theater, and always take the side that steroid users like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa have no place in the Hall of Fame. When it comes to fantasy football though, my competitive nature tends to go into overdrive.
In more occasions than I would like to admit I become as desperate as Nick Nolte in the first act of Blue Chips, kick the soapbox to the curve and go all out signing every player with character issues that I can find to help me win. To prevent future me from some deep soul-searching sessions, I have traversed the murky terrain of morally dubious players and separated the individuals that I am allowing myself to own this season from those that will be off-limits.
Fair Game, Can Own
Brandon Marshall
Marshall has had run-ins with both the law and team management. He was suspended last year by the NFL after violating the league's personal conduct code and is currently seeking to be traded from the Broncos. Despite his poor behavior, I don't find Marshall to be "unownable." In my opinion, Marshall is still maturing as a person after witnessing the tragic death of friend and teammate, Darrent Williams. I think Marshall will stay in Denver where some tough love from Josh McDaniels will help his performance on and off the field.
Fair Game, but Too Many Issues
Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Brett Favre
I could own these players and still look at myself in the mirror, but I don't think I even want to. Sure, Favre could resurrect his career on the Vikings, T.O. could grab double-digit touchdowns and Ochocinco could surpass 1,000 yards, but given previous experiences there is probably a better shot they end up pouting on Sunday Conversation than starring in Monday's Top Plays.
Do Not Touch
Matt Jones, Plaxico Burress, Michael Vick
Jones, Burress and Vick will arguably be the three most controversial fantasy players in 2009. These are the type of players that in my Kobe-like madness to win I end up signing. For Burress, I would make justifications like "hate the sweatpants, not the player." I could see myself endlessly arguing about how Jones was in a car with cocaine that might have belonged to one of the other passengers and that his probation violation was simply due to drinking beers while playing golf. When it comes to Vick, I would make the case that he is a reformed individual and that everybody deserves a second chance. Well this year, I am not going to make those arguments. This year my league-mates will have no fun at my abandoned morals. This year these players will not be on any team that I own and they should not be on any team that you own either.
Man, I stepped back on that soapbox pretty good.
